【菩提好聲音 #39】貌似合理，實則短視 Seemingly Rational, Yet Utterly Shortsighted

In recent centuries, technological advancements have brought a brand-new way of living to humanity. Especially in developed Western nations, material civilization has reached unprecedented heights.近幾個世紀以來，科技發展為人類帶來了嶄新的生活。尤其在西方發達國家，物質文明達到了前所未有的高度。Although the Chinese people experienced poverty for a long time, in those past years lacking external reference points, we did not lose our psychological balance because of a lack of wealth.雖然中國人窮很久了，但在過去那些缺乏參照的年代，我們並沒有因為貧窮而失去心理的平衡。Since the opening up, people surprisingly discovered how spectacular the outside world actually was. Almost overnight, becoming rich became the most pressing desire of the public.改革開放以來，人們驚奇地發現，外面的世界原來如此精彩。幾乎在一夜之間，致富成了民眾最為迫切的願望。我們今天所說的現代化，其實就是一種西化。It must be admitted that a prosperous life carries immense temptation, and in this regard, humanity indeed possesses equal rights. Why shouldn't our living standards align with developed nations? In theory, this demand is rational.應當承認，富足的生活具有極大的誘惑力，而在這一點上，人類也的確擁有平等的權利。各行各業都在與世界接軌，為什麼我們的生活水準就不能向發達國家看齊呢？理論上說，這一要求是合理的。But what is the reality laid out before us? Although we boast a vast territory and have always taken pride in being rich in natural resources, our massive population means our per capita resources are far below the global average.那麼，擺在我們面前的事實又是什麼呢？雖然我們擁有九百六十萬平方公里的國土，雖然我們向來以地大物博而引以為豪，可中國還有太多的人口，這使得我們的人均資源遠遠低於世界平均水平。However, as society rapidly shifts from a moral framework to a utilitarian one, this unalterable reality fails to stop the impulse of "looking at everything through the lens of money."但是，在中國從道德社會迅速走向功利社會的今天，這無法改變的現實並不能阻擋「一切向錢看」的衝動。In the minds of the public, having money means escaping poverty, reaching a comfortable life, and holding wealth seems synonymous with possessing happiness. Since wealth equates to happiness, people will naturally spare no effort to obtain it.在民眾心目中，有了錢就可以脫貧，有了錢就可以達到小康，擁有財富似乎就擁有幸福。既然財富等同於幸福，只要能得到幸福，自然會不惜一切。Under the shared goal of economic development, humanity's latent potential has been fully unleashed. Tragically, in many instances, human creativity and destructiveness are directly proportional.在發展經濟的共同目標下，人們潛在的力量得到了全面激發。遺憾的是，很多時候，人類的創造力與破壞力是成正比的。Forests are logged on a massive scale, minerals are over-extracted, and even wild animals cannot escape their fate.森林被大批砍伐，礦產被過度開發，連野生動物也在劫難逃。Yes, perhaps they are all being converted into the wealth we dream of, but nature is left far more impoverished because of it. Money is quickly spent, but how long will it take for trees to grow into forests again? How long will it take for the ecosystem to recover?是的，或許它們都在轉換成了我們夢寐以求的財富，但自然卻因此而更為貧瘠。錢很快就會用完，樹木又需要多久才能成林呢？生態又需要多久才會恢復呢？